Color blending set and paint mixing tray

ABSTRACT

A color mixing tray which is a planar member with a plurality of wells arranged in an annular pattern. There are a plurality of wells in each of a plurality of sectors of the annular pattern, with wells in each sector radially spaced and each well in each sector having a counterpart in the other sectors. The counterpart wells of the sectors are in an annular ring within the annular pattern. Each well is separated from each other well by a wall and the walls between the wells within each sector are lower in height than the walls between the wells in adjacent sectors to facilitate transfer of paint between wells within a sector while maintaining isolation from sector to sector. A color mixing set combines the mixing tray with a supply of paints of mixing hues in balanced primary colors and in black and white, each paint supply being in a container having provision for dispensing measured quantities of paint therefrom. The set further includes a student guide having a spectrum chart representing the wells of the mixing tray together with indicia indicating the location of and providing instructions for mixing of the red, yellow and blue colors to create secondary and intermediate colors and for the mixing of the colors with each other and with the black and white paints to create shades, tints and tones.

United States Patent 1191 DePauw 1451 June 11, 1974 Moreau.. 206/1 .7

Primary ExaminerHarland S. Skogquist Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Hofgren,Wegner, Allen, Stellman & McCord [57] ABSTRACT 1 A color mixing traywhich is aplanar member with a plurality of wells arranged in an annularpattern. There are a plurality of wells in each of a plurality ofsectors of the annular pattern, with wells in each sec- 1 tor radiallyspaced and each well in each sector having a counterpart in the othersectors. The counterpart wells of the sectors are in an annular ringwithin the annular pattern. Each well is separated from each other wellby a wall and the walls between the wells within each sector are lowerin height than the walls between the wells in adjacent sectors to'facilitate transfer of paint between wells within asector whilemaintaining isolation from sector to sector. A color mixingsetcombinesIthe mixing tray with a supply of paints of mixing hues inbalanced primary colors and in black and white,each paint supply beingin a container having provision for dispensing measured quantities ofpaint therefrom. The set further includes a student guide having aspectrum chart representing the wells of the mixing tray together withindicia indicating the location of and providing instructions for mixingof the red, yellow and blue colors to create secondary and intermediatecolors and for the mixing of the colors with each other and. with theblack and white paints to create shades, tints and tones.

4 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures PATENTEDJUN 1 1 m4 slal 5265 @@6; r I 6 5 mL Ja i-{Ci c PATENTEBJUH H :974 1 5.265 SHEET 20F 2 v \3' COLOR YELLOWGRAY VALUES SCALE I ll ll ll II II H H ll H COLOR E SCALE. 0

(DC) GO l HUE ITINT PSHADE .TONE

VINTENSITY FIG. 6

COLOR BLENDING SET AND PAINT MIXING TRAY BACKGROUND or THE INVENTION.

The mixing of colors to obtain different colors and variations anddimensions thereof is an ancient art. However, there is not presentlyavailable va mixing apparatus and guide for demonstrating or teachingcolor mixing in a coordinated manner. It is a principal object of thisinvention to provide a mixing tray, paints and guide to satisfythisneed.

A principal feature of the invention is the provision of a color mixingset to demonstrate in a coordinated mannerthe primary, secondary andintermediate colors, shade,.tint and tone color variations and hue,value and intensity color dimensions. The set includes a mix ing trayhavingwells arranged in an annular pattern with a plurality of wells ineach of a plurality of sectors of the pattern. A supply of paintsaccompanies the mixing tray with mixing hues in each of the primarycolors, red, yellow and blue, and in black and white. Each paint supplyis in a container having provision for dispensing a measured quantity ofpaint. A guide for the user includes a spectrum chart with arepresentation of the wells of the mixing tray having indiciaidentifying the relative location of the primary, secondary andintermediate colors, further indicia for the mixing of the red, yellowand blue colors to create the secondary and intermediate colors andstill further indicia for mixing the colors with each other and withblack and white paints to modify the intensity and value of the hues tocreate shades, tints and tones thereof. The guide may, for example, be a.wall chart or an instruction sheet used individuallyby the students.

The primary colors are balanced to give good intensity in all mixturesof secondary and intermediate hues. They make a color wheel of twelvehues having good intensity and excellent visual sequence. Unliketurquoise and magenta,the red and the blue are visually true. I I IAnother feature of the invention is that the mixing tray includes afurther series of wells for mixing white and black paints in differentproportions to create a set of gray values.

A further feature is that the mixing tray has walls between the wellswithin each sector which are lower in height than the walls between thewells in adjacent sectors. This facilitates transfer of paint within asector while minimizing the accidental transfer of paint to the wells inadjacent sectors.

A more particular feature of the paint mixing tray is that the wells atthe innermost annular ring have a triangular configuration and the wellsin the other annular rings are generally trapezoidal.

Still another feature of the invention is that paint mixing tray has acover member extending across the top of the wells and, moreparticularly, the cover member is frictionally held to the planarmember.

In accordance with another aspect of the invention, a nested stack ofdisposable paint mixing trays is provided, each being formed of a thinplanar sheet of insufficient lateral strength to be self-supporting,with the nested stack carried on a self-supporting base member.

Further features and advantages: of the invention will readily beapparent from the following specification and drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a plan view of a paint mixing tray illustrating the invention;

FIG. 2 is an illustration of a typical paint supply container;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary section taken along lines 3-3 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary section taken along line 44 of FIG. I andshowing a removable cover for themixing tray;

FIG. 5 is a view similar to FIG. 4 illustrating a modifled form of theinvention with the mixing trays nested in a stack; and 1 FIG. 6 is anillustration of a portion of the student guide.

The paint mixing tray illustrated in FIGS. 1, 3 and 4 is a generallyplanar sheet member 10 having a rectangular configuration with roundedcorners. The tray has a plurality of wells orrecesses therein arrangedin an annular, or as illustrated a circular, pattern. Theplural wellsare divided into 12 generally triangular sectors and within each sectorthere are a plurality of wells. Each well within a sectorhascounterparts in size and location within each other sector. Thecounterpart wells of each sector form an annular ring within the annularpattern of the wells. The wells of the inner circle are designated 11,those of the center circle 12 and those in the outer circle 13 and 14.To permit identification of specific wells, each of the sectors isidentified by anumber 1 through 12 located as on the dial of a clock.The sector number is used as a suffix in identifying the wells and thecomplete reference numeral for each of the wells 12 of the center circleis indicated on the drawing. Selected other wells are identified asdesirable in completing the description of the invention.

In each of the sectors the innermost well has a triangular configurationand the other wells are generally trapezoidal. In the outer circle, twoside-by-side wells l3, 14 are provided in each sector.

Two wells, l6, 17, are provided at the lower corners of sheet 10 andbetween them along the lower edge of the sheet are nine small wells 18-1through 18-9.

A quantity of paint in each of the primary colors, red, yellow and blue,is provided with the mixing tray. Preferably each paint is in a squeezebottle 20, FIG. 2, hav ing a dropper top 20a closed by a cap 21. Anopening (not shown) in the spout is provided for dispensing paint fromthe bottle and the opening is of a size so related to the viscosity ofthe paint that the paint may readily be dispensed in measuredproportions, as drop by drop, to facilitate accurate measurement. Otherbulk containers with provision for accurately dispensing measuredquantities of paint may, of course, be used. In addition to the threeprimary colors, quantities of paint are also provided in black andwhite.

' The paints are preferably of creamy consistency for ease of colormixing. In addition, the paints are preferably compounded to drysemi-moist in mixing tray wells. An appropriate solvent may be addedlater for contin ued use without waste.

The primary colors are mixed in appropriate wells to provide secondaryand intermediate colors and with black and white to achieve shade, tintand tone variations and hue, value and intensity color dimensions.

The circular configuration of the mixing wells provides a convenientphysical arrangement with which the various mixtures illustrating colorvariations and dimensions may be coordinated. A similar configuration isillustrated in Crane US. Pat. No. 2,463,749. In accordance with theinvention, the hues (a pure color with no white or black) are located inthe wells 12 while the other mixtures which may be desired are preparedin wells 11, 13 and 14.

Provided with and a part of the color mixing set is a guide, FIG. 6,which has displayed thereon areas that correspond with the wells of themixing tray. These areas have a generally similar configuration (withthe exception of the outer circle) and in FIG. 6 are identified by thenumbers which identify the mixing wells, with a prime mark added. Thelegends associated with the representations of the wells on the guidelocate the primary colors, red, yellow and blue, in sectors 4, 8 and 12,respectively. As pointed out above, the pure hue of the primary color ispreferably placed in the center circle of wells 12 of the appropriatesector. The secondary and intermediate colors are obtained by mixing theprimaries in the proper proportions. The following chart isrepresentative of the proportions used with one suitable set of balancedprimaries. The proportions may, of course, vary depending upon theintensity and pigments used with the primaries.

other ways as by adding black to a tint of the hue, adding thecomplementary color to a tint of the hue or adding white to a shade ofthe hue.

The term intensity identifies the purity, brilliance or strength of acolor. The primary red, blue and yellow which are used should have thesame degree ,of intensity. The secondary and intermediate colors whichare mixed from them will have the highest intensity they can attain. Theintensity is lowered as the hues are modified forming a tint, a shade ora grayed tone.

The value of a color is its approximation of a light, dark or middlegray value. The hues have differing values. Yellow is light while violetis dark. The value of a hue will change as it is mixed into a tint orshade. The value may in some cases remain the same when a tone isformed.

The foregoing relationships are indicated graphically in the color scalebelow the color guide in FIG. 6. Here the gray value scale is indicatedacross the top and the relative intensities and values for a red-orangefamily of colors are charted. Tints of the hue show a graduated lowerintensity and lighter value. Shades of the hue show a graduated lowerintensity and a darker value. The tones show a graduated lesserintensity than the hue and a range of light to dark values.

As suggested by the layout of the color guide and the key for the colorscale, wells l2 are preferably used for EV V RV 3R 4R R 4B 18 IB Theletter designations signify the following:

v R Red RO Red Orange 0 Orange YO Yellow Orange Y Yellow YG Yellow GreenG Green BG Blue Green B Blue BV Blue Violet V Violet RV Red Violet Ninegradations of gray can be prepared in wells 18 with varying mixtures ofwhite and black paint from wells 16 and 17.

Shades, tints and tones are each based on a single hue. A shade isobtained by adding either black or the complementary color to the hue.Complementary colors are indicated diametrically opposite each other onthe guide.

A tint is prepared by adding white to the hue.

Tones of a hue may be mixed in one of two ways:

1 add a gray (or white and black individually to the hue; or

2 add white and the complementary color to the hue. The order of mixtureis unimportant. Where tints and shades are available, tones may beprepared in the hues. The triangular wells 1 1 may be used for makingshades. The wells 13 and 14 for each hue may be used for mixing tintsand tones. The relationship of the myriad variations of mixtures may bedemonstrated, understood and repeated by a student in a coordinated andlogical manner.

The mixing tray 10 may suitably be formed of a plastic sheet which isheated and then vacuum molded to form the wells. A cross section of thewells 13 and 14 in one sector of the annular pattern is illustrated inFIG. 3. The wells within the sector are separated by walls 24, 25 and 26while the adjacent sectors are separated by walls 27 and 28. The wallsbetween the wells within the sector are lower in height than the wallsbetween the wells in adjacent sectors-This facilitates the transfer ofmaterial from well to well within the sector while minimizing theaccidental transfer to adjacent sectors. The bottoms of the wells arerounded and the walls are in clined, eliminating sharp corners which aredifficult to clean.

A similar construction is used with the gray scale wells l6, l7 and 18,as illustrated in FIG. 4. The wall 30 between well 17 and well 18-9 ishigher than the walls 31 between adjacent gray scale wells 18.

The mixing tray has a depending peripheral wall 32 with an outwardlyextending flange 33 which contributes to the stiffness of the tray.Indentations 34 are provided in the wall around the perimeter of thetray and frictionally receive corresponding indentations in a removablecover member 35. The cover member may be applied after paints have beenmixed to retard drying. The cover engages the walls 27 and 28 separatingadjacent sectors and the wall between the black paint well 17 and theadjacent gray well 18-9, but is spaced from the lower walls within eachsector and between the wells 18.

A modification of the mixing tray is illustrated in FIG. 5. Here thetray member has the well configuration illustrated in FIG. 1. The tray,however, is made of a lighter weight plastic material and hasinsufficient strength to be self-supporting. A plurality of such traysare nested and are frictionally held together temporarily withindentations 34 provided around perimeter of each tray as illustrated inFIG. 1. The bottom tray is mounted on a supporting member 40. Each trayis inexpensive and intended to be singularly removed and discarded afteruse, exposing a new clean tray, avoiding the need for, cleaning. Artprograms with restricted budgets can economically provide each studentwith a single light weight tray made more durable by taping to a pieceof cardboard.

Market research has'shown that a packaged assembly of five colors,mixing tray and student mixing guide has great buyer acceptance, withlarge classroom wall chart available separately. The packaged assemblycan be a 9%" X l l%" tray laid on top of student guide, FIG. 6, printedon 10%" X 12 cardboard, and one ounce each of certain red, yellow andblue in triangular squeeze bottles,.FlG. 2, laid in wells 12-12, 12-4and 12-8, and one ounce each of black and white in cylindrical squeezebottles laid in wells 16 and 17. A blister pack cover overall holds thecolor containers in their wells and is bonded to outer edges of 10%" X12" student guide cardboard. The student guide is perforated all aroundfor 8%" X 11'' removal from bonded outer edge and may be three-holepunched for a ring ations and the hue, value and intensity colordimensions, said set comprising:

a planar mixing tray member having a plurality of wells therein arrangedin an annular pattern, there being a plurality of wells in each of aplurality of sectors of said annular pattern, the wells in each sectorbeing radially spaced, each well in each sector having a counterpart inthe other sectors, the counterpart wells being in an annular ring withinthe annular pattern, each well being separated from each other well by awall; a supply of mixing paints in each of the primary colors, red,yellow and blue, and in white and black, each paint supply being in acontainer with provision for dispensing measured quantities therefrom;and a student guide having displayed thereon a spectrum charge with arepresentation of the wells of the mixing tray, indicia indicating therelative locations of the primary, secondary and intermediate colors,indicia for the mixing of the red, yellow and blue colors to create, thesecondary and intermediate colors, further indicia for the mixing of thecolors with each other and with the white and black paints to modify thehue, value and intensity of the colors and to create shades, tints andtones thereof. 2. The color mixing set of claim 1 in which said studentguide is a wall chart. w k

3. The color mixing set of claim 1 in which said student guideis aninstruction sheet used individually by he studem- 4. The color mixingset of claim 1 in which said mixing tray includes a further series ofwells, separated by walls, for mixing the white and black paints indiffering proportions in each of the series of wells to create a set ofgray values.

1. A color mixing set for use by a student in applied color mixingexperimentation, to demonstrate in a coordinated manner the principlesof primary, secondary and intermediate colors, shade, tint and tonecolor variations and the hue, value and intensity color dimensions, saidset comprising: a planar mixing tray member having a plurality of wellstherein arranged in an annular pattern, there being a plurality of wellsin each of a plurality of sectors of said annular pattern, the wells ineach sector being radially spaced, each well in each sector having acounterpart in the other sectors, the counterpart wells being in anannular ring within the annular pattern, each well being separated fromeach other well by a wall; a supply of mixing paints in each of theprimary colors, red, yellow and blue, and in white and black, each paintsupply being in a container with provision for dispensing measuredquantities therefrom; and a student guide having displayed thereon aspectrum charge with a representation of the wells of the mixing tray,indicia indicating the relative locations of the primary, secondary andintermediate colors, indicia for the mixing of the red, yellow and bluecolors to create the secondary and intermediate colors, further indiciafor the mixing of the colors with each other and with the white andblack paints to modify the hue, value and intensity of the colors and tocreate shades, tints and tones thereof.
 2. The color mixing set of claim1 in which said student guide is a wall chart.
 3. The color mixing setof claim 1 in which said student guide is an instruction sheet usedindividually by the student.
 4. The color mixing set of claim 1 in whichsaid mixing tray includes a further series of wells, separated by walls,for mixing the white and black paints in differing proportions in eachof the series of wells to create a set of gray values.